Primrose here, spring on its way

By Karen Sala

Your correspondent in Gage Park

(773) 471-1429 • [email protected]

January, on average, is the coldest month of the year. I sure hope it doesn’t get any colder than it has been, although I would rather have cold than snow.

I bought a yellow Primrose the other day. You know what I always say: when the Primrose are out in Jewel, spring is on the way! You have to think positive.

My Christmas decorations are down. I sure could have used Timmy to help, but I had to do it myself. I’ll probably find something still hanging about May or June.

January is National Soup Month. I’m making French Onion soup today. I was watching Dean Richards on WGN-TV, make it on his cooking segment. Now I have a taste for it. I’m probably not doing exactly what he did but it’s starting to look pretty good and smell good too. It should be a nice warmer upper on this terribly cold day!

I bought myself three new bread pans at Jewel the other day. The gremlins in my house better keep their hand off of them.

The 2022 Obama Foundation Scholars have been announced, and one of them is Samantha Alexandra Martinez, co-founder of the Gage Park Latinx Council, who is working to empower young people of color from the Southwest Side to imagine new possibilities and make positive changes in their communities. Congratulations, Samantha!

I don’t have any pets anymore–not even a goldfish. I always had dogs, birds, a cat, fish, frogs, turtles, etc. I don’t understand having an animal, be it a dog or a cat and not letting it in the house. I’ll admit I spoiled all my babies.

If you are cold, your pet is cold. I know some dogs are made for winter more than others, but that doesn’t mean they want to be out all day and night. It doesn’t mean they want to sit in the snow and ice. If you cannot be responsible, don’t own a pet.

When taking your dog for a walk, pay attention to the pads on their feet. Many people use salt on their sidewalks that is not pet friendly. Don’t let them lick the salt off their paws. Booties help, but I have never had a dog that would leave them on.

Brush them to stimulate blood flow and keep their skin and coat in good condition. Antifreeze is deadly to animals, so wipe up any spills and keep it out of your pets reach. If I had one, wouldn’t let my dog out by itself anymore. I would stay out and keep my eyes on it. There seems to be too many lost pets.

There is a challenge on Facebook asking that on what would have been Betty White’s 100^th birthday, Jan. 17, everyone make a $5 donation to an animal shelter. This seems like a good challenge.

Mark Stubitsch, it was nice to see you the other day.